Air discharge trunk for traveling cleaner for textile machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 & fi jam ATTORNEYS m M F E J V N J 2 5+ 5 I m w a j K T Q. ////n n S u n e H n "mm H 27/. m v, v (1 I! u a .1 A y Z////// J J. F. KING, JR AIR DISCHARGE TRUNK FOR TRAVELING CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MACHINE March 1, 1966 Filed Nov. 1, 1962 ream Abe 215094545 0u7ZT or 24 awae 1v LTZJVfA/xv? 0454/66 Q///// I 4/ v 4 F. KING, JR

FOR TEXTILE MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1, 1962 INVENTOR fig AM 4 8o ATTORNEYS 2/ R A R A m m m V/% IL V m m m ll/ ////fl n I j J. i H 2 2 a a 2 2 2 M 6 e N My 5 0 a 2 g g A E 5 5 M 4 10 r 5 a a 5% g g g P UE A V fl l, 2 A m/ lg //////1 ///l L a M Q m g United States Patent O 3,237,236 AIR DISCHARGE TRUNK FOR TRAVELING CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MACHINE James F. King, Jr., Winston-Salem, N.C., assignor to The Bahnson Company, Winston-Salem, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Nov. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 234,815 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-312) This invention relates to an air trunk for use in a depending attitude with traveling cleaner apparatus for directing streams of air in a generally lateral direction against the side of a textile processing machine such as a row of spinning machines and the like so as to, for example, blow against, and dislodge any lint which may tend to collect on, the surfaces of various parts of the machine from the creel and drafting roll at the upper part of the spinning frame down to those surfaces which form the so-called underframe zone located from the floor level up to about the drafting roll level.

Air trunks for this purpose have been used for some time in conjunction with overhead traveling cleaner apparatus, air being discharged downwardly through the trunk and thence laterally outward against the side of the machine through a series of vertically spaced nozzles located in the wall of the trunk, this air being delivered under pressure into the upper end of the trunk from the pressure discharge side of a motor driven blower which travels on a wheeled carriage which is usually self-propelled along an overhead trackway by a traction motor applying its power to certain driving wheels on the carrrage.

One disadvantage experienced with previous single trunk constructions has been the difficulty in adjusting the height of the trunk so that all of the nozzles will direct their respective streams of air against the desired parts of the machine. In particular, this difficulty has been most acute in obtaining the correct positions for the groups of nozzles which are used respectively to blow off the parts of the machine from the drafting rolls upwardly to the top of the machine, i.e. the general creel and drafting zone of the machine, and to blow off those portions of the machine located below the drafting rolls generally referred to as the underframe zone. This is due to the fact that all machines are not constructed alike and further to the fact that the specific mounting of the overhead traveling cleaner apparatus, as to height, is not uniform for all machines. To overcome this difirculty, it has thus been suggested that one lateral nozzle equipped trunk be used for blowing off the creel and drafting roll zone of the machine, and that a separate similar trunk be used for blowing off the underframe zone of the machine, the two trunks being mounted side-by-side, in a depending attitude, and each trunk being vertically and independently adjustable. While such a construction would thus solve the problem of adjustability, it would create another problem in requiring too much space.

The purpose of the present invention is thus to provide an improved, essentially single trunk structure so far as overall space requirement is concerned and which provides for relative adjustment in height of the groups of nozzles used respectively for blowing off the creel and drafting roll zone on the one hand and the underframe zone on the other hand. This not only effects a saving in space, but also permits one to manufacture a single and essentially standard construction which can be easily I chine, and the outer trunk terminating at essentially the drafting roll level of the machine, the inner and outer "ice trunks being relatively adjustable as to height, or it can be accomplished by use of a single, depending trunk structure provided with an intermediate, adjustable tucked portion for effecting the desired relative adjustment as between the upper and lower groups of blow-off nozzles.

The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages inherent in the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of two, alternative embodiments and from the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of one embodiment of the invention employing dual concentric and radially spaced depending air trunks, the inner trunk reaching downward to essentially fioor level and being provided with a group of laterally positioned nozzles for blowing off the underframe zone of the machine, and the outer trunk reaching down to essentially the drafting roll zone and being provided with a group of nozzles for blowing ofl? the drafting roll and creel zone;

FIG. la is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the general manner in which the air trunks are suspended from the overhead traveling cleaner;

FIG. 2 is a partial and longitudinal central section of the trunk shown in FIG. 1 but drawn to a slightly larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a transverse, horizontal section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention employing a single trunk structure with an adjustable overlap in the wall between the upper and lower groups of blow-off nozzles;

FIG. 5 is a partial and longitudinal central section of the trunk shown in FIG. 4 but drawn to a slightly larger scale; and

FIG. 6 is also a vertical central section showing a modified construction for the vertically adjustable overlapped portion of the trunk wall between the upper and lower groups of nozzles.

With reference now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1-3

in particular, which illustrate the dual concentric trunk arrangement, the inner trunk is indicated at 1 and this is attached to a sleeve 2 made of rigid material such as sheet metal by means of a clamping band 3. The inner trunk can be made of any suitable material, and it may be rigid or semi-rigid or flexible. Preferably, the trunk is made from a flexible fabric material so as to avoid injury to personnel working in the aisle area between adjacent rows of machines along which the traveling cleaner moves, or damage to any equipment such as doffer carts or the like which may be located in the aisle. Sleeve 2 is connected to the pressure air discharge outlet from the blower B which is mounted on the traveling carriage C. This blower and the traveling carriage are shown only in a very general and diagrammatic manner in FIG. 1a to establish their relationship to the depending air trunks. The structural details of various types of both blower and traveling carriage which can be used are well known in the art and hence no particular construction is essential to the present invention.

The inner trunk 1 extends substantially to floor level F and is provided with a vertical row of spaced nozzles 4 which are fitted into openings provided in the wall of the trunk, the nozzles 4 being arranged in vertically spaced relation at the side of the trunk facing the spinning frame and covering an area from the floor upward to about the level of the drafting rolls 5 which extend longitudinally of the spinning machine and are supported by the roll beam 6. Thus air forced downwardly through sleeve 2 and trunk 1 is directed laterally outward from nozzles 4 against the underframe zone of the machine, i.e. that zone of the machine generally below the drafting rolls 5. Trunk 1 can be adjusted vertically on sleeve 2 by loosen- 3 ing and then retightening the clamping band 3 after the desired adjustment in height of the trunk 1 has been effected.

Arranged concentrically about the upper portion of the inner trunk 1 is the outer flexible fabric trunk 7 which is attached at its upper end to a rigid sleeve 8 by means of a clamping band 9. The outer trunk 7 and sleeve 3 are radially spaced from the inner trunk 1 and inner sleeve 2 respectively to develop an annular passageway 10 therebetween and downwardly through which air indicated by the arrows is forced from the discharge side of the blower. The outer trunk 7 is also preferably made from a flexible fabric material. Trunk 7 can also be adjusted in height in the same manner as is the inner trunk 1 and independently of the latter simply by loosening band 9 and then retightening the same after the desired adjustment is made. It will be noted that the bottom edge of inner sleeve 2 extends downwardly to a point beyond the bottom edge of outer sleeve 8 so that clamping band 3 may be more conveniently installed to locate the vertical position of trunk 1. After clamping band 3 has been tightened to secure the trunk 1, trunk 7 is then installed on sleeve 8 and secured to it by clamping band 9. The lower end of the outer trunk 7 is folded inwardly upon itself to establish a wall part 7a of double thickness which is clamped to the exterior wall surface of the inner trunk 1 by means of a clamping band 11. This of course closes off the bottom of the annular passageway 10 between the inner and outer trunks. In order to prevent the inner fabric trunk 1 from collapsing radially inward as clamping band 11 is tightened, a rigid sleeve 12 is located on the inside of trunk 1 in contact with the inside surface of this trunk. Consequently, as band 11 is tightened, the folded lower end portion 7a of the outer trunk 7 will be caused to press against the outer surface of the inner trunk 1 which in turn is pressed at its inner surface against the internally arranged rigid sleeve 12. Clamping band 11 is of course finally tightened after the outer sleeve 7 has been adjusted to the proper height at the clamping band 9.

Extending laterally from the wall of trunk 7 are a group of nozzles 13 which are fitted into corresponding openings provided in the wall of trunk 7 at the side thereof facing the textile machine. These nozzles are arranged in vertically spaced relation in a row and function to direct streams of air inwardly against the creel zone and other parts of the machine located above the drafting roll assembly 5. Another nozzle structure is located below nozzles 13 so as to direct a stream of air against the rear part of the drafting roll assembly 5. This nozzle is constituted by a rigid sleeve 14 secured in the wall of trunk 7 and extending obliquely downward. A nozzle 15 is secured by means of a clamping band 16 to this sleeve 14 and it will be noted that nozzle 15 and its sleeve 14 have an overall length greater than that of the other nozzles 13. The reason for this is the fact that the a-irstream from nozzle 15 must be adjusted reasonably accurately so as to blow exactly on the rear part of the drafting roll assembly in order that this part of the machine will be kept as free as possible from accumulation of lint.

In lieu of a dual concentric trunk arrangement as shown in FIGS. 1-3, one may utilize a single trunk structure as shown in FIGS. 4-6 and still provide for independent adjustments in heights of the upper and lower groups of nozzles. With reference now to this modified embodiment, the entire air trunk made of flexible fabric material is indicated at 20. The upper part 20a of the single depending trunk 20 is secured to a rigid sleeve 21 communicating with the air discharge side of the blower unit mounted on the traveling cleaner. The top end of trunk part 20a is slipped over the bottom end of sleeve 21 and is secured in place at the desired height by means of a clamping band 22. As in the case of the outer trunk 7 of the previously described embodiment, the upper trunk part 20a is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced outlet nozzles 23 positioned to direct streams of air laterally inward against the creel zone of the machine and another and more elongated nozzle 24 directed obliquely downward to blow against the rear rolls of the drafting roll assembly 5. Nozzle 24 can be adjusted in position along its attachment sleeve 25 over which it is slipped and secured in the desired position by a clamping band 26.

The lower part 20b of trunk 20 is connected to the upper part 20a by means of a adjustable tucked portion 200 which is shown quite clearly in FIG. 5. By increasing or decreasing the length of the folds in the trunk wall which establish the tuck, the lower part 2017 of the trunk will be raised or lowered to a corresponding extent. An internal rigid reinforcing sleeve 27 is placed between two of the folds at the tucked portion 20c, and a clamping band 28 is used to clamp the folds at the tucked portion 200 against the internal sleeve 27 to prevent the folds from slipping. As with the previously described embodiment, the lower part 20b of the air trunk is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced nozzles 30 which direct streams of air laterally inward against generally the underframe zone of the machine, i.e., those parts of the machine located below the drafting roll assembly 5. As the tuck 200 in the trunk is shortened or lengthened so also will be raised or lowered respectively the group of nozzles 29 relative to the underframe and floor level.

FIG. 6 illustrates a slight modification for the single trunk structure with the tuck portion intermediate the upper and lower groups of nozzles. In this embodiment of the invention, in addition to the internal reinforcing sleeve 27, a second rigid sleeve 29 is inserted between adjacent layers of wall material in the tuck, the sleeve 29 being separated from sleeve 27 by one layer of the trunk wall and being located between the outermost and the next inner located layers of the wall material. Sleeve 29 includes an upwardly extending wall part 29a along one side thereof which terminates in the nozzle attachment sleeve 29b which forms an integral part of sleeve 29. Attachment sleeve 2% has the same function as sleeve 25 in that it is used to fasten in place the elongated nozzle 24 which is directed obliquely downward to blow against the back rolls of the drafting roll assembly 5. Thus the nozzle supporting sleeve 29b in the embodiment of FIG. 6 is more rigidly attached in place than is the corresponding sleeve 25 in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 which relies solely upon the flexible trunk wall 20a for its support, and hence assures a more permanent and accurate adjustment of the position of this most important nozzle 24'.

In conclusion, while preferred embodiments of the improved air trunk structure in accordance with the invention have been described and illustrated pursuant to the requirement of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the construc tion and arrangement of its component parts without, however, departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

'1. In a traveling cleaner for textile machines comprising a carriage adapted to travel longitudinally of the textile machine, a blower mounted on the carriage and a flexible air discharge trunk structure depending from the carriage along the side of the textile machine and which is connected at its upper end to the outlet from the blower, the improvement wherein said flexible air discharge trunk structure comprises a first group of nozzles secured in spaced relation along the lower part of said trunk structure for discharging air inwardly against the corresponding lower part of the textile machine, a second group of nozzles secured in spaced relation along the upper part of said trunk structure for discharging air inwardly against the corresponding upper part of the textile machine, and means for effecting adjustments in the relative heights of said lower and upper parts of said trunk structure and hence also corresponding adjustments in the relative heights of said first and second groups of nozzles.

2. A traveling cleaner for textile machines as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for effecting adjustments in the heights of said first and second groups of nozzles relative to each other includes an adjustable tuck portion between the said upper and lower parts of said trunk structure.

3. A traveling cleaner for textile machines as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for effecting adjustments in the heights of said first and second groups of nozzles relative to each other includes an adjustable tuck portion between the said upper and lower parts of said trunk structure, a rigid internal reinforcing sleeve within said trunk structure at said tuck portion and a band surrounding said trunk structure at said tuck portion for clamping the tucked portion of the trunk wall against said reinforcin-g sleeve.

4. A traveling cleaner as defined in claim 3 for use on textile machines provided with drafting rolls wherein said rigid internal reinforcing sleeve includes an integral nozzle attachment sleeve extending outwardly through the trunk wall and which further includes a nozzle secured to said attachment sleeve and extending obliquely downward for directing air against the drafting roll zone of the textile machine.

5. A traveling cleaner for textile machines as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible air discharge trunk structure comprises an inner trunk portion to the lower part of which said first group of nozzles is secured and an outer trunk portion surrounding the upper part of said inner trunk portion and spaced therefrom to establish an air flow passageway therebetween, said outer trunk portion terminating at a level above said first group of nozzles and having said second group of nozzles secured thereto, and wherein said means for effecting adjustment in the relative heights of said first and second groups of nozzles is constituted by means for adjusting the heights of said inner and outer trunk portions.

6. A traveling cleaner for textile machines as defined in claim 5 wherein said traveling cleaner includes depending inner and outer concentric rigid sleeves and clamping bands for adjustably securing the upper ends of said inner and outer trunk portions respectively to said inner and outer sleeves.

7. A traveling cleaner for textile machines as defined in claim 5 wherein said flexible air discharge trunk structure further includes a rigid reinforcing sleeve located internally of said inner trunk portion at the lower end of said outer trunk portion, and an externally located band clamping the lower end of said outer trunk portion against the wall of said inner trunk portion and also clamping the wall of said inner trunk portion against said reinforcing sleeve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,124,603 1/1915 Fur-mas 15-415 1,143,351 6/1915 Benson 239566 X 2,060,100 11/1936 Michelson 239-587 X 2,309,290 1/ 1943 Aksomitas 15-304 X 2,561,882 7/1951 Patton 15-405 2,946,521 7/1960 McEachern 153 12 X 2,974,342 3/1961 Fell 15312.1 2,977,181 3/1961 Reiterer 15-312.1 3,045,929 7/1962 McEachern 15-3 12 X 3,064,299 11/ 1962 Bahnson et al. 15-312 3,080,598 3/1963 McEachern 15-415 X 3,099,015 7/1963 Renehan 285--260 X WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A TRAVELING CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MACHINES COMPRISING A CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO TRAVEL LONGITUDINALLY OF THE TEXTILE MACHINE, A BLOWER MOUNTED ON THE CARRIAGE AND A FLEXIBLE AIR DISCHARGE TRUNK STRUCTURE DEPENDING FROM THE CARRIAGE ALONG THE SIDE OF THE TEXTILE MACHINE AND WHICH IS CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END TO THE OUTLET FROM THE BLOWER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID FLEXIBLE AIR DISCHARGE TRUNK STRUCTURE COMPRISES A FIRST GROUP OF NOZZLES SECURED IN SPACED RELATION ALONG THE LOWER PART OF SAID TRUNK STRUCTURE FOR DISCHARGING AIR INWARDLY AGAINST THE CORRESPONDING LOWER PART OF THE TEXTILE MACHINE, A SECOND GROUP OF NOZZLES SECURED IN SPACED RELATION ALONG THE UPPER PART OF SAID TRUNK STRUCTURE FOR DISCHARGING AIR INWARDLY AGAINST THE CORRESPONDING UPPER PART OF THE TEXTILE MACHINE, AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING ADJUSTMENTS IN THE RELATIVE HEIGHTS OF SAID LOWER AND UPPER PARTS OF SAID TRUNK STRUCTURE AND HENCE ALSO CORRESPONDING ADJUSTMENTS IN THE RELATIVE HEIGHTS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND GROUPS OF NOZZLES. 